Implement Success 18.1

SUMMER 2021

ImplementSUCCESS Volume 18 Issue 1 | The Official Publication of AMC | Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada | www.a-m-c.ca

The Game Changers

Driving Innovation in Ag

INSIDE: The Space Race for Ag | page 8 A Ten-Year Overnight Success Story | page 18 Combatting a Skilled Worker Shortage | page 20

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ImplementSUCCESS Summer 2021 Volume 18 Issue 1

Features

In This Issue

Raven Industries

Chair’s Message

The Space Race for Ag

page 5

page 8

By Paula Schuck

President’s Message

Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN)

New CEO of CAAIN

By Lee Griffi

page 7

Thank You to Our Corporate Partners

page 10

page 6

Workforce Development

AMC Members Navigate Through Unprecedented Production Levels

By Lee Griffi

page 12

By Laurie Bursch

page 26

AMC New Member Spotlight

Honey Bee Manufacturing

An Agricultural Game Changer

AMC Re!magination Spotlight

page 14

page 28

Index to Advertisers

Clean Seed Capital Group

A Ten-Year Overnight Success Story

By Paula Schuck

page 18

page 31

Conestoga College

Combatting a Skilled Worker Shortage

By Lee Griffi

page 20

Triple Green Products

Innovation Meets Carbon-Neutral

By Lee Griffi

page 22

Allan Equipment Manufacturing

A World First for Potato Farming

page 24

By Paula Schuck

@AMCshortlinecda

A national organization with global impact, the Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada represents both agricultural equipment manufacturers in Canada and the many companies that supply them. We actively identify and drive opportunities to support industry growth. AMC is the only Canadian association that is 100% dedicated to agricultural equipment manufacturing.

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Published semi-annually for Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada (AMC), 204-666-3518 | www.a-m-c.ca.

MISSIO N S TAT E M E N T To foster and promote the growth and development of the agricultural equipment manufacturing industry in Canada.

PUBLISHED BY 31st Line Strategic Communications, 316342 31st Line, Embro, Ontario N0J 1J0 | Ph. 204.666.3518, Fax 519.475.4792, www.31stline.com.

GROUP PUBLISHER Karen Sample EDITOR AMC MARKE TING AMC PROJEC T MANAGER AMC L AYOUT Debra Buchanan ©2021 Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada. All Rights Reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher. Published July 2021/PIM-AMC3380

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YOU MANUFACTURE WE FINANCE Partner with the only lender 100% invested in Canadian agriculture and food. fcc.ca

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Message from AMC’s Board Chair Throughout history, events have occurred that triggered many permanent changes. This pandemic is one of those events.

COVID-19’s impact was sudden, significant and all-encompassing and it has not necessarily been the best resourced and most “transformed” companies that have fared the best.

However, for our industry, we do not simply endure challenging times, we are strengthened by them. We found ways to magnify the value we provide to our customers and the way in which we provide it, and are emerging from this turbulent period better than when we went in.

Frank Capasso Chair | Board of Directors Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada

Super charged by rapid advancements in technology, continuously evolving customer expectations, and increased competition, AMC members have learned to perfect and respond to significant changes in their businesses.

They have forged better products, better processes, and better business models. They rose to the occasion, adapted to new health protocols and ever-changing circumstances and then got on with the job: doing our part to feed the world.

I am very proud of the fact that our industry did not miss a beat. We regrouped, refocused and redoubled our efforts with even more determination. We did this while showing empathy and compassion and ensuring our employees had stability in unstable times.

The impacts of COVID-19 will be far reaching and long lasting, with the only certainty being that things will continue to change at an extremely fast pace. While our post pandemic future is yet to become crystal clear, we must celebrate the ambiguity we have lived – for within the discomfort we have become comfortable – and it is here that our new opportunities to succeed exist.

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Thank you to our Corporate Partners With a growing number of members, AMC collaborates with corporate partners to provide ongoing support, services and programs that help members’ businesses grow.

aon.ca

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AMC Team

Donna Boyd President 204-666-3518 DonnaBoyd@a-m-c.ca

Cherrille Price Member Services and Administration Co-ordinator 204-666-3518 cherrille@a-m-c.ca

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Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada | Board of Directors Chair | Frank Capasso Executive Vice President The CTD Group 1331 Chevrier Blvd.

Winnipeg, MB R3T 1Y4 204-453-6833

Vice Chair | Cor Lodder Director Walinga Inc. PO Box 1790, 70 - 3rd Ave NE Carman, MB R0G 0J0 204-745-2951

Treasurer | Linda Turta Chief Executive Officer RAM Industries PO Box 5007, 33 York Rd E. Yorkton, SK S3N 3Z4 306-786-2678

Past Chair | Richelle Andreas Chief Executive Officer S3 Enterprises Inc. PO Box 39, 2180 Oman Drive Swift Current, SK S9H 3V5 306-773-0645

Director | Nigel Jones Chief Executive Officer Väderstad Industries Inc. PO Box 123 Langbank, SK S0G 2X0 306-538-2221

Director | Grant Adolph Chief Operating Officer Buhler Industries Inc. 1260 Clarence Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3T 1T2 204-661-8711

Director | Paul Horst General Manager TubeLine Mfg/Horst Welding 6455 Reidwoods Drive Elmira, ON N3B 2Z3 519-669-9488

Director | Randy Bauman President Bauman Manufacturing / Eldale Machine & Tool 3 Industrial Drive Elmira, ON N3B 2S1 519-669-5195

Director | Mark Hildebrand Vice President, Sales Monarch Industries Ltd. PO Box 429, 51 Burmac Rd. Winnipeg, MB R3C 3E4 204-786-7921

Director | Bob Cochran General Manager Highline Manufacturing PO Box 307, Hwy 27 Vonda, SK S0K 4N0 306-258-2233

Director | Cam Cornelsen Vice President Norstar Industries PO Box 119, RR1 Morris, MB R0G 1K0 204-746-8833

Director | Glenn Buurma President Penta Equipment Inc 73 Main Street Glencoe, ON N0L 1M0 519-882-3350

Associate Committee Chair | Robert Ablamowicz Canadian Group Leader Axalta Coating Systems 54 Lake Crescent Toronto, ON M8V 1V8 416-720-9754

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Message from AMC’s President The Game Changers To have the results of a game changer, you need to think and behave like a game changer.

That means populating your mindset with a bold vision, surrounding yourself with the best people, information and technology, and striving for the results very few people and companies have. It means that no idea is going to work unless you have the courage to do the work, and the perseverance to outwork everyone around you.

In this issue of Implement Success, we are sharing game-changer stories. Stories of people, processes and partnerships that have – and continue to – change agriculture and the world, for the better.

Donna Boyd President | Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada

It was no easy task to pick a handful of stories for this issue because there are so many we could tell. Here are just a few highlights: Raven Industries is helping to make ag more efficient and save on labour at a time when we have a significant worker shortage across Canada. Autonomous equipment being driven by “Raven brains” is delivering more precise application, steering equipment in the field, wirelessly connecting to the office and helping control outputs.

Kerry Wright, the new CEO of the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) explains the three pillars of the organization that will help them bring more innovation to agriculture. She gives us a glimpse into the mission to validate new technologies in a real-world environment and showcase them to the farmers who will benefit.

Gene Fraser, Vice-President of Business Development at MacDon Industries Ltd. – and Chair of AMC’s Competitive Engagement Committee – is a well-known game changer in our industry.

He and MacDon continue to lead, experiencing record demand and recently hiring 350 new employees. Cor Lodder, Director of Walinga’s Carman Machining Division, and AMC’s Board of Directors Vice-Chair, gives his insights into labour issues and working with Conestoga College in Ontario to develop and train more skilled workers. Nigel Jones, CEO of Väderstad, talks about record orders at his company and how they are increasing market share.

At Honey Bee, General Manager Jamie Pegg unveils his company’s new partnership with inventor Ron Gleim to bring the X-Steam-inator to market, using steam to annihilate weeds in various crop sectors.

Graeme Lempriere, Chairman and CEO of CleanSeed Capital Group and Colin Rush, CEO of CleanSeed, talk about their work to disrupt and change old perceptions about seeding, planting and soil tillage. Their SMART Seeder MAX/MAX-S™ plants exactly what is needed on every square foot of the field, increasing efficiency and reducing carbon footprint.

To address the growing need for skilled workers, Brenda Gilmore, Conestoga College Chair of Workforce Development and Partnerships – Trades, talks about the success of their new Agricultural Equipment Operator Pilot Program and the graduation of the first cohort.

Triple Green’s new heating, drying and dehydrating products are reducing carbon tax expenses and putting waste to good use. General Manager Lyall Wiebe believes their product will change the landscape on how farmers dry their grain.

Trent Cousins, President of Allan Equipment, AMC’s first member in PEI and inventor of the world’s first electric potato harvester, takes time away from his own farm to talk about this exciting and environmentally friendly technology.

And our new member and reimagination spotlights also highlight member companies altering the world of agriculture in avant-garde ways.

This issue covers just a small snapshot on the Canadian energy, ideas, innovation and technologies that are transforming agriculture around the globe. AMC members have truly raised their game to world class and epitomize what being a game changer is all about!

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MEMBER PROFILE “A lot of the machines on farms today have Raven ‘brains’ in them. Raven’s belief is that ag is going to continue to get more and more automated.”

SpaceRace — Ben Voss, Director of Sales, Raven Industries

The

for Ag

OMNiDRIVE Brent Grain Cart

By Paula Schuck “Autonomy is like the space race,” says Ben Voss, Director of Sales, North America and Australia at Raven Industries. Voss joined Raven in 2020, lured by the exciting challenges and opportunities involved in changing the ag world globally.

Raven has become a leader in precision agriculture, high performance specialty films, and aerospace and defense solutions utilizing strength in engineering, manufacturing and technological innovation. Raven has a lot of different areas of focus, but driverless

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OMNiPOWER New Leader Spreader

ag technology is a major growth area evolving rapidly.

While driverless tractors might have seemed like a far-fetched concept even five years ago, now autonomy is gaining steam at a pace led by Raven, which is pushing the envelope on new technology.

“A lot of the machines on farms today have Raven ‘brains’ in them. Raven’s belief is that ag is going to continue to get more and more automated.”

Raven’s technology reduces costs through more precise application, steers equipment in the field, wirelessly

connects the field with the office and promotes environmental stewardship with controlled outputs.

A major advantage of using Raven’s technology is that it can help farmers with the labour shortage. More and more this is an issue that needs to be solved in the ag world. Voss says years ago, kids grew up on farms and they learned how to use every last piece of equipment. We do not have access to the same skilled labour that we used to.

With autonomous technology, labour shortages and the changing nature of farming, you have to be able to put

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RAVEN AUTONOMYTM CONNECTED ECOSYSTEMTM RAVEN AUTONOMY

anyone in a tractor and have them be INDUSTRY-LEADING AUTONOMOUS CONNECTED ECOSYSTEM able to drive it, Voss continues. He points LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY TO SYNCHRONIZE, SIMPLIFY, AND OPTIMIZE THE FARM to the last few years in ag and the labour LEVERAGING INDUSTRY-LEADING AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY TO SYNCHRONIZE, SIMPLIFY, AND shortages exacerbated by Covid. “These OPTIMIZE THE FARM are wake-up call moments.”

“Many farms again this year may not be able to get enough workers to help plant and harvest and do what is necessary on farm for a successful yield. So, some farmers might not be able to plant this year, which leads to food shortages and higher prices. Ag can still be efficient without people and with a labour shortage,” Voss says.

Raven has been around for 60 years, and they have a large footprint. In Canada, there’s an Applied Technology office in Regina, Saskatchewan. Corporate headquarters are in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The company has 1,500 employees, and it is globally recognized with offices in Europe, Brazil, Australia and the US.

Success Stories Raven has grown strategically and has had a few recent acquisitions: Dot Technology Corp. rebranded to OMNiPOWER and Raven also acquired Smart Ag, which built AutoCart, a kit you can put on existing tractors, now rebranded to OMNiDRIVE. The two together are now known as OMNi. Enabling holistic, hands-free precision, OMNi gives the farmer total control of their time and maximizes operational productivity and efficiency.

“The tech has been really well received.

We’re seeing incredible demand. The acceptance rate is great. We have a lot of competitors. We are able to go head to head with them and we can stretch performance and value.”

The Team The core emphasis of the business is highly skilled employees. There are many skilled engineers and also a whole section that’s basically the “Geek Squad” for farm equipment.

A lot of Raven employees are based in Sioux Falls; recruits come from universities in the mid-West, Europe, or Australia. Many begin work as interns and are then recruited full time. Raven is always on the lookout for skilled workers such as software engineers and machine technicians.

“We have a strong team and so much talent to draw from.” @AMCshortlinecda

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Data Management & Connectivity

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Data Management & Connectivity

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Boundary Creation & Field Path Planning

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Boundary Creation & Field Path Planning

Raven Autonomy Executive Controller System

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Raven Autonomy Executive Controller System

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Perception Detection & Avoidance Systems

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Perception Detection & Avoidance Systems

Coverage Sharing

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Coverage Sharing

Culture Voss describes the culture at Raven as innovative, humble and curious.

“We’re always turning over rocks to see what’s under them right now.”

“There are a ton of creative exercises that go on in a company like ours in order for innovation to happen.”

Raven’s veracity is in the current relationship to the customers. Voss says the best way to explain it is: say you are building a house. Many come in and say okay what do you want? What type of floors and how many rooms? Raven says: tell me about why you want to build the house.

Future Forward

State University and has worked for Raven for nine years. He describes Raven as caring, a workplace with diversity initiatives and numerous STEM commitments. They are especially committed to encouraging young girls and women to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math because they are underrepresented in those areas.

“I graduated from university and worked for another company about an hour away.

I enjoyed what I was doing, but I grew up on a farm and so when this opportunity came up it felt like the opportunity to return to my roots in some ways. Seeing the ways in which technology has exploded for farmers in the last twenty years was just so exciting to me.”

“Five years from now, I’d say Raven is bigger than it is now with products that we can’t even begin to imagine because of the speed with which technology is evolving. But I also think it’s a bit more disruptive than that.”

As for obstacles, Walkes says the market for autonomous technology can be a complicated space. It is a disruptive technology. We have good engagement from early adopters.

Voss describes the company as a bit like Wayne Gretzky trying to anticipate where the puck is going before they shoot it.

“Our culture is such that we set out to solve great challenges together. We are committed to service, quality, peak performance and innovation.”

“Being able to put anyone in the equipment leads to being able to take the person right out of the equipment,” Voss says. “We have some of the most advanced technology that way.”

Dominic Walkes, Director of Strategic Programs, graduated from South Dakota

“Raven is committed to reaching even higher levels of autonomy in agriculture in Canada. We have a tremendous opportunity in front of us to change the way ag is done across the globe. We see the capabilities of the system to become more flexible in the future.”

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TAPPING INTO TECHNOLOGY connect create cultivate

connecter créer cultiver

New CEO of CAAIN Looking to Add More Innovation to the Ag Sector The new Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) has been around the food industry for her entire career. Kerry Wright took over the top job at the organization on April 12 of this year with a resume ripe with experience.

By Lee Griffi

What is CAAIN Anyways?

1. Robotics and Automation

“My father is a chef, so food was always around us and an important part of my early years. I grew up in a small town that was very rural and had a lot of agriculture. Many of my friends and family worked in the sector so it has always been of interest to me,” said Kerry Wright. Her father steered her towards a career in dietetics and she eventually graduated from the University of Guelph. “The program was a combination of food science and commerce, so I graduated with a degree in commerce, had all of the food science courses, and I did a dietetic internship for about 6 months,” added Wright.

CAAIN is an organization mandated to increasing the productivity and efficiency of Canadian agrifood companies by applying new technological solutions. It came together quickly in March of 2019 when eight founding partners submitted a proposal to the federal government.

The partners are made up of technology and agri-food companies, postsecondary institutions, and research institutions. Industry, Science and Economic Development Canada approved the application four months later and CAAIN was born.

The ag sector is facing major labour shortages, and that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

“We want to drive automation towards reducing the need for unskilled labour. Allow the machines to operate and maintain skilled workers. That part is the driving force around acceptance into the competition. We want to make sure we can provide more producer certainty around what they are doing in their milking or their harvesting, and the projects we are looking to fund will really bridge that aspect,” said Wright.

Her career path eventually led her to an opportunity to work with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association where Wright had the opportunity to work on new beef product. “I had a national portfolio, so I worked with companies across Canada to develop new products of beef. That really entered me into the realm of understanding supply and where our food comes from and how that relates into the food processing sector.” She then worked with one of the largest agri-food consulting businesses in Canada that supported companies to build plants and help with strategic business development.

“I also put a lot of effort into process improvement, continuous improvement, and innovation,” she added.

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“We really want to make sure we are getting out there with the funding that we have. Our focus is bridging the gap dividing the agriculture and technology sectors,” said Wright, who is excited to be at the helm. “What it was really all about was that innovation space for me. AMC members certainly know and appreciate the ability to add innovation and automation in this sector is really needed. The people at CAAIN are doers.

They move things along very quickly and I really like the ability to be a part of that.”

The Three Pillars There are three main areas the organization is focusing on. “We really want to help to drive and support these areas and get it out to the people that need it and understand what research can do to move the ag sector forward.

CAAIN currently has closed and open competitions underway focusing on the three pillars:

2. Data-Driven Decision-Making Data really is the key driver to enable a smart decision-making culture. “To be able to do that it really depends on good, wellanalyzed data.

This data leads to informed decisions, which then leads to a greater return on investment. Some of the people we are supporting in our competitions are looking at that data, understanding it, and understanding how it can be layered with other information and bring some really good solutions to farming,” said Wright.

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3. Smart Farms “This is about validating new technologies in a real-world environment and demonstrating those technologies to producers.

You want to be able to show the people with boots on the ground how this works, what is the rationale and what’s the return for it. With our alignment with postsecondary institutions such as Olds College and Lakeland College, we can educate that next generation of people coming forward.” Wright added that smart farms represent a unique, exciting opportunity for CAAIN and she feels they will be able to expand them across the country. “Some will be crops, some livestock, greenhouses, we will have a good variety. Right now, they tend to be post-secondary scenarios where we can carve out land and do some research and innovation, but it doesn’t have to be related to a college.”

The Competitions Nine projects spanning the three pillars were approved through a closed competition that launched in the spring

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of 2020 and wrapped up in January of this year. “It’s very exciting for us to move those forward as they are aligned with what we want to do,” said Wright.

“The projects involved do not receive grants, but rather compensation for eligible project expenses. The more information participants are willing to share with the ag-tech ecosystem, the greater the reimbursement, up to a maximum of 40 percent of project costs.“ Wright said the application process is very straightforward. “We have a single page outline that is quite easy to do so we can quickly understand what the project is about. The next step is an expression of interest and from that we get more details on the full proposal to

Proportion of Submitted & Approved Projects

by Province

see if it is a good fit.” A pan-Canadian open competition was launched in December 2020 for individuals or organizations meeting CAAIN’s criteria.

Another open competition will likely be announced in the fall just after the current process wraps up.

Some recipients of the closed competition have been announced with more to come throughout the summer.

For up-to-date information, go to CAAIN’s website at https://caain.ca.

Today’s Ag Sector Wright feels that agriculture is ready now to apply innovation and technology. “I think farmers are really going to push to adapt and consider different opportunities to run their farms. Don’t get me wrong, I am very high on traditional farming as well.

They are going to learn a lot from the past and they are going to take it forward.” She believes now is the time for the sector to do more with what they have. “What can we do to allow a farmer to do more with less and be more productive? What we have on our land and in our water are things we know are very precious. The stewards of the land, the better they can do and more informed they can be about how to do it, I think it is an exciting spot to be in.”

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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

AMC Members Navigate Through Unprecedented Production Levels

Like so many AMC members, Salford Group is growing and experiencing high demand, but they are also struggling to find workers to fill the job openings they have available.

By Lee Griffi

Some Companies Seeing Record Growth While Dealing With Labour Issues The agricultural manufacturing sector is experiencing tremendous growth and is a big part of the economic recovery occurring in Canada. This success, however, has at times come with the challenge of being able to find skilled workers to fill job openings, with many companies embarking on hiring sprees.

Geography can play a critical role when it comes to the workforce availability as can proximity to a post-secondary institution.

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Business is Booming Many agricultural manufacturers are seeing record orders this year following what was a flat 2020, including Saskatchewan’s Väderstad. Chief Executive Officer Nigel Jones feels there was a lot of hesitancy with big capital purchases because of the pandemic. “The appetite has been different this year and that primarily has been driven by commodity prices. Grain prices, in particular canola, are at record highs so there has been a definite shift in the market. This generates farm receipts and then the

farm operations can spend money.” The company has also signed on several new dealers over the past eight months. “That is now beginning to bear fruit. We are starting to see the orders come through these new channels resulting in an increase in our market share. We are close to three times what we were doing last year in terms of volume. We have never seen order books like this.”

Paul Horst is the President of Tubeline Manufacturing Ltd in Ontario and he said the industry is as robust as he has ever seen. “The grain markets are high, so farmers are doing well and they’re spending money.

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All of that is driving the industry. We have more orders in the books now than we have ever had, more than three times what we had last year at this time.”

Gene Fraser is Vice President of Business Development at Manitoba’s MacDon Industries Ltd. He said there was more optimism in the business world as COVID-19 vaccines were rolled out. He adds an improved trade atmosphere has also helped. “Trade tariffs in 2020 made business interaction unstable and I would say things are a bit more normal today. As the machinery inventories for both new and used depleted last year, that too has played a significant part in this global ag machinery demand.”

Filling Open Positions No company in Canada illustrates just how busy the ag manufacturing sector has been in 2021 than MacDon Industries Ltd. The Winnipeg-based operation has been on a hiring tear of late, adding 350 new positions in the past five months. Fraser said finding the employees was not really an issue but completing their orientation was. “Getting new hires onboarded and trained was a big challenge during the pandemic. We have had strict COVID-19 protocol measures in place since the beginning of March last year.” His focus has now turned to hiring about 40 students for roles in product support, engineering and other areas. “It gives the students some great work experience and it has been a valuable addition to MacDon with all the young people coming into our workforce,” he added.

Manufacturers who are located next to larger urban centres are at a definite advantage. Horst said their geographic location in Southern Ontario has provided them with a greater employee pool than remote locations, particularly in Western Canada. He added that word of mouth has also been a big boost. “The most successful attribute for us has been employee referrals. What we have done recently is offer a referral bonus and pay it out if the new worker stays on the payroll for at least 90 days. It has been extremely popular.” One roadblock Horst has noticed in acquiring new talent is the housing market. “Not only is it difficult to find housing, but the cost of living is becoming a burden when it comes to moving to a new city. Everything is more expensive.”

For Väderstad, their most successful approach is with our work environment through branding. “We try and focus on

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becoming the employer of choice and we believe we have reasonable salary levels and benefits package, and we focus a lot on training and development,” said Jones. “It has worked relatively well for us and we seem to have a lot of people who are aware of Väderstad. We are starting to attract people from outside of our immediate geographic area as a result,” he added. Despite the positives, Jones said they are looking at a deadline for filling open positions. “We are booked right until next May, which is unheard of for us. We know what’s in front of us and this is the challenge. We need to hire close to 60 people over the next few months if we are going to meet that challenge. We have closed off all new orders because we don’t want to take on more if we can’t meet the delivery date.”

“There are lots of challenges, but there are just as many opportunities to feel good about.”

— Gene Fraser, Vice President of Business Development, MacDon Industries Ltd.

Cor Lodder is the Director of Walinga’s Carman Machining Division in Manitoba and he said skilled workers are what his company needs right now. “It does get tough from time to time. All our locations are advertising right now for trades like welders, fabricators, and transport trailer techs.” He added that much of the success they have had in the past is by attracting talented immigrants. “We utilize a strong immigration program of well-educated and well-trained German machinists and tradespeople. We have utilized that opportunity for 15 years or more to the point we are looking at a second generation of the group. The pandemic has unfortunately caused immigration officials to work from home meaning longer wait times. It’s time-consuming enough to get someone through the immigration process at the best of times so Walinga has put the program on hold.”

Lodder, who is a machine apprentice graduate from Ontario’s Conestoga College, said having close relationships with academic institutions is a crucial endeavor. “Colleges are very aware of what’s going on in the industry and what our needs are. We have been involved with Manitoba’s Red River College in

terms of recruiting new skilled employees and our Ontario division has a close relationship with Conestoga.”

AMC Launches Competitive Engagement Committee AMC is well apprised of the challenges its members are facing to recruit and retain talent and have prioritized it as a focus area for its new Competitive Engagement Committee – the mandate for which is to advance key strategies, challenges and issues to support the world-class reputation of Canadian agricultural manufacturers and their suppliers.

Fraser, who chairs the committee, said one avenue they are taking is to provide input to post-secondary educational institutions, and governments at the federal and provincial levels, when it comes to the skills, education and trades manufacturers and dealers need. “Our role is to facilitate and collaborate with members as needs may vary from region to region. Larger municipalities have vastly different workforces to draw upon than the more remote rural areas where many of our members conduct business,” said Fraser. He added that governments could also stimulate trades programs to encourage people to consider – and ultimately choose – careers in ag manufacturing.

Additionally, AMC will soon be launching a member survey focused on identifying emerging trends, skills, in-demand roles, and baseline salary and benefits across Canada to help our members know the ranges they need to be in to attract and retain employees.

The association also gives members the opportunity to share their best practices when it comes to workforce issues, something Horst is very aware of. “The networking, talking to my fellow board members has been great. There are also dozens of AMC members I know I could drop a line to at any time to compare notes on human resources issues.”

While rising material prices and supply chain issues continue to concern our industry, Fraser is optimistic about the future. “There are lots of challenges, but there are just as many opportunities to feel good about. The world during the pandemic acknowledged that agriculture is an essential service. We see that the general public valued the many people who work in agriculture and people quickly realize that we must have a safe and secure food supply.”

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MEMBER PROFILE

An Agricultural GAME CHANGER

Honey Bee Manufacturing Innovates and Collaborates with the X-Steam-inator

by Laurie Bursch Jamie Pegg, the general manager of Honey Bee Manufacturing, uses the word “exciting” when he talks about the X-Steam-inator, a new method of weed control that Honey Bee is manufacturing for X-Steam-inator Agricultural Products (XAP). The X-Steam-inator creates energy-efficient, high-temperature steam to kill weeds, enabling farmers to control weeds without chemicals.

The idea is elegant and simple. The X-Steam-inator heats water using induction coils powered by an onboard generator or PTO, rather than 14

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a boiler. The steam – now heated to 150°C – travels through lines to a pull-type sprayer that applies it to the weeds, killing the core of the plant.

Voila, dead weeds that don’t come back.

While the X-Steam-inator can’t provide selective weed control, it’s well suited to controlling weeds between crop rows, along with weeds in vineyards, playgrounds, ditches and at the side of city streets. “The applications are almost limitless, quite honestly,” says Pegg.

The X-Steam-inator “is a very exciting development that has the chance to revolutionize a lot of different industries.”

The partnership came out of a chance meeting with inventor Ron Gleim at the Canada’s Farm Show two or three years ago. Gleim is a Saskatchewan farmer and businessman who was “interested in doing something for the province, for the area, and to help farmers.” Pegg laughs when he says, “I wish I could give you a great story with regards to our plan, thought process and strategy

for this project, but that really wasn’t the case. We were two people with a common interest, figuring out a way to work together.”

– Jamie Pegg, General Manager, Honey Bee Manufacturing

But the genesis and innovation behind the X-Steam-inator spoke to Pegg and his company. The companies share a www.a-m-c.ca

foundation of serving their employees, customers and communities. “Those were values that the XAP stakeholders demonstrated in their planning and what they wanted to promote. It aligns with our vision statement here at Honey Bee.” He describes Honey Bee’s approach to innovation as farmers serving farmers.

“A lot of our staff are farm people. They identify problems on their farm – those are the problems we want to solve at Honey Bee.” Honey Bee was founded by brothers Greg and Glenn Honey who, as Pegg tells the story, bought some additional land for their farm, but didn’t have the funds to buy the tractor they needed to farm the land. And they said, “We can build a tractor.” Using their education, farming experience, a press in their shop, a welding stick and a few other tools, over the course of three months, they built the Honey Bee tractor. Pegg continues, “They put it together, they put it in the field, and it worked. Some of the innovation from the Honey Bee tractor is still in use today.” That innovation model continues as Honey Bee’s people see the shortcomings with the machinery they use. “We continue to grow our product line by identifying a problem on the farm and innovating to solve it.”

Pegg readily acknowledges that the cutting-edge technology of the X-Steam-inator will not be inexpensive, but it will solve a number of pressing problems for farmers. For starters, it requires no chemicals – a huge benefit for organic growers, as well as anyone concerned about chemical-resistant weeds on their land. It uses 22 gallons of water an hour – significantly less water than is used to apply herbicides.

It works almost instantaneously; he notes that if the machine is used in a playground, for instance, children could use the playground equipment ten minutes after the X-Steam-inator finishes. The technology “completely eliminates the discussion of a carbon footprint, which in some quarters is very significant today.”

“Everybody has a story about weeds – it’s a hard battle”, Pegg says. And he thinks the X-Steam-inator will help win it. “I believe that this is an innovative product, and this is what Honey Bee wants to be a part of.” He says that this country has a strong history of innovation. “We’ve got a whole economy – our ag economy, which is critically important to Canada – that has been developed out of innovation, @AMCshortlinecda

because of the harsh environment that we live in. And one of the great things about the ag economy to date is that individuals have had the ability to innovate on the product. I think it gets harder and harder for an independent individual to innovate, and one of the things that’s great about this project is that it is independent people who are innovating, and Honey Bee is really happy to partner with them.” He adds that this is a new form of innovation for them – working another company’s idea, sharing expertise and experience

to build their product – that supports the growth of both companies, and the Canadian agricultural industry.

Pegg’s enthusiasm doesn’t lose its steam. He’s proud to have the opportunity to encourage people to innovate, and grow their ideas and dreams. He finishes by saying, “The X-Steam-inator is “a very exciting development that has the chance to revolutionize a lot of different industries. The possibilities are endless.”

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17

MEMBER PROFILE

A Ten-Year Overnight Success Story

By Paula Schuck Tight, tested and true. A game changer, a ten-year overnight success story with, at its heart, a family. There are many ways to describe Clean Seed Capital Group, but the vision, the path towards using the SMART Seeder MAX/MAX-S™ globally on farms, is full speed ahead.

In 2011 Graeme Lempriere, Chairman & CEO, took Clean Seed Capital public to capitalize on and finish what his father Graeme Lempriere, started, a vision Chairman & CEO – of change. In Clean Seed the 90s, Dr. Noel Lempriere began investigating how to capitalize on soil conditions while planting in a way that would protect the natural soil structure by limiting soil disturbance while embracing and protecting the environment. Lempriere, now 99, an PHD engineer and World War II veteran Lancaster Bomber pilot, can still be found in the field watching how SMART Seeder MAX/MAX-S efficiently seeds, plants and delivers life-supporting inputs.

“We were always looking for ways to disrupt the seeding and planting space,” says Chief Operating Officer Colin Rush.

“There’s the perception in the field that heavily tilled soil is easier to plant, but that is also detrimental to the soil.”

The team began introducing the concept to the farming community and working on proof of concept for the Smart Seeder

in 2014. “We have come a long way since then, we are characterized as an ag company, but what we really are is an ag tech company that happens to make equipment. While we are publicly traded, at heart we are a family company. Most of our shareholders are farmers and likeminded investors who recognize what we have changes everything,” says Rush.

Clean Seed Capital Group is known for its smart seeding technology and vast intellectual property portfolio that makes planting thousands of acres precisely with maximum yield in mind paramount. SMART Seeder MAX/MAX-S micromanages all input products and plants exactly what is needed on every square foot of the field. Their proprietary system is much more efficient and leaves a significantly smaller carbon footprint than their competition.

Waste not want not – farmers are well acquainted with this phrase, embracing the way of life it suggests. It should therefore be no surprise that a company looking to help farmers maximize their investment in seed and minimize waste would capture the attention and support of Gary Anderson, whose leadership in the agricultural manufacturing sector extends back to 1978.

In 2017, Anderson met Lempriere and Rush at an agricultural conference, after listening to the company’s vision he was captivated. In August 2017, Anderson was appointed to the Board of Directors of Clean Seed Capital Group Ltd., a TSX Venture Exchange-listed ag tech company, and in 2018 was appointed President. In March 2019, he was inducted into the Manitoba Chapter of

the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Hall of Fame.

Anderson is a co-founder of Ag Growth International Inc. (AGI) and was its Chief Operating Officer from inception in 1996 to December 2010 at which time he became Chief Executive Officer until he retired at the end of 2015.

“I was very much attracted to the environmental aspect of the business, which also fits with my family philosophy and lifestyle. I sensed their passion right off the bat. After this much time in business, I am very attuned to that.”

Anderson describes Clean Seed as tight, tested and true. “Everyone pitches in together. There is no hierarchy. Everyone is out in the field working. We often joke that we are a ten-year overnight success. This team has been through a lot together.”

“Everyone has complete buy-in to the technology we are making and the vision that we are making a transformational technology.”

“At AGI, we built it to be a billion-dollar company in the 1990s,” says Anderson.

“It took twenty years to do that. Now the market moves much faster. The space we play in now, we can do this in ten years.”

So how does it work?

The current market in Western Canada largely relies on the air seeder platform that’s been around for about 30 years.

That particular technology puts seed and fertilizer into the ground; however, it is inconsistent, patchy and creates seed bunching, while also not planting in a favourable seed bed. Plant spacing

A true game changer, Dr. Noel Lempriere.

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www.a-m-c.ca

SMART Seeder MAX/MAX-S™

and seed bed utilization is critical for both quality and quantity. SMART Seeder MAX/MAX-S is not an air seeder or a planter even though it leverages both concepts.

Clean Seed Capital Group has also developed its own software and hardware to accurately leverage data now provided by third parties.

“We also changed the way we engage with the ground,” Rush says.

SMART Seeder MAX/MAX-S™ cuts the soil and opens up a very narrow furrow and interprets previously imported agronomic prescriptions that account for zone, fertility quantity, seed volumes and spacing. As the operator drives, the SEEDSYNC software translates that prescription and effectively makes the SMART Seeder function like a printer, putting down exactly the right amount in the right spot every time on every foot.

There are hundreds of different things a farmer can do to impact yield.

There’s good data available, but until recently there hasn’t been equipment to extrapolate that foot-by-foot description.

“The data will only get you so far. We are turning that data into actions at the lowest cost and most efficient delivery process as possible,” Rush says.

“We’d like to see the industry move further away from just talking straight yield and looking directly at the quality and environmental impacts. We need to increase food production across the globe while also being stewards of the land.” says Noel Lempriere, VP Marketing.

Farmers are always looking for ways to increase yields while also improving quality of the product. The price of land has gone up dramatically, a lot of people are landlocked. The other side is that many farmers have a philosophy of making do with what they have while also pushing the limits in soil and economy.

@AMCshortlinecda

“The Smart Seeder Max is our opening salvo,” Rush says. “The vision, company and brand are about leveraging Clean Seed Capital’s expertise to evaluate synergistic opportunities to advance our vision. Our success is in the development and application of our technology. There are so many that never make it to the marketplace, our door is always open.”

it makes other products antiquated and that can be threatening. There’s an environmental aspect to this of course, and not everyone supports it; however we want to play a meaningful role in climate change programs that play a pivotal role.”

“We have a tight, talented group for a company of our size. That speaks well of the mandate in many ways, there’s no way a small company usually can attract a team of this calibre. We have less than 20 employees presently outside of our manufacturing partnership, we punch far above our weight.” Rush says.

In farming, innovators and early adopters often want the latest and greatest tech and equipment. Clean Seed Group has an aggressive ramp up model, Rush says. “We have customers who have already bought this, and we haven’t even released the pricing yet. We plan to sell a lot of units.”

Right now, Clean Seed is building a new plant in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, a big win for the province. Centrally located in Western Canada, this flagship facility will be home to the assembly of the SMART Seeder group of technologies, sales and customer experience infrastructure, dealer support and related research and development activities. Clean Seed will hire new skilled workers during the next twelve months for this facility to scale to customer demand for the new SMART Seeder MAX/MAX-S. As Clean Seed looks to the future, Rush says data leads the way. “The prescription will evolve based on real-time conditions.

The beauty of that is we already have an edge on the competition.

“We have so many offers and so much interest in the technology already. This isn’t a fixed race. We believe in doing things for producers that will be helpful long-term.

Future Challenges “We are a scrappy start-up company.

There’s only room for a couple of those.

There are a few OEMs that don’t really want us to succeed as we are truly upsetting the apple cart. As we thrive,

Where Will Clean Seed Be in Five Years?

Global Markets The SMART Seeder MAX/MAX-S is set to start demonstrating in Australia in the fall with a down-scaled demo machine to show the benefits for the Australian famer.

Overseas in Argentina and Brazil farmers can get two to three crops per year because of the conditions. In Africa, South Africa, the Ukraine, Russia and China, there is growing interest in the technology.

So how does SMART Seeder MAX/MAX-S work in developing countries?

“Well, our tech is all based on one row at a time so it’s scalable for all markets, we have developed 5-foot, 8-foot and 12-foot machines in our trial years to be prepared for the inevitable,” Rush says.

“Right now, we are riding a huge high note with the SMART Seeder MAX/ MAX-S and look forward to implementing change for the betterment of agriculture as a whole worldwide,” says Graeme Lempriere.

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MEMBER PROFILE

Combatting a Skilled Worker Shortage

by Lee Griffi The agricultural manufacturing sector is leading the economic recovery in Canada and one Ontario college is contributing by adding to the much-needed skilled employee pool.

In October of 2020 Conestoga College was awarded a $180,000 grant through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership for the development of the new Agricultural Equipment Operator pilot program at Conestoga’s Brant County location. The creation of the 16-week pilot program involved several stakeholders, including the County of Brant.

The Importance of Teamwork Zac Gable is the county’s senior economic development officer and said part of their overall strategy is economic diversification. “Agriculture has a long tradition in Brant and is a key economic driver. We knew prior to COVID-19 there were issues with the agricultural labour force. In fact, the Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council projects there will be over 47 thousand agriculture jobs unfilled in Ontario alone by 2029,” said Gable. The county decided to have some conversations with Conestoga

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regarding some sort of program but then the pandemic hit. “The labour situation became exacerbated but with that came along a pot of money we could apply for both from the provincial and federal governments. We were able to band together with some other organizations and get a submission together and that led to the creation of the program,” he added. Other partners in the project were the South-Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corporation and the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie, supported by Libro Credit Union, to expand training opportunities for current farm sector employees and better prepare those interested in careers in agriculture to work on farms in key areas.

The college has other resources that manufacturing operations can access.

Walinga has operations in the Guelph, Ontario, area and utilizes several programs. “We have taken on some apprentices in the past from Conestoga.

My son is actually a graduate of the Manufacturing, Engineering, Welding and Robotics program,” said Chief Executive Officer Butch Medemblik. He added that the college is a great asset for Walinga.

“Especially for the trades. We would love to send more staff to take the Truck and Trailer Mechanic program and even more for welder apprenticeships. That would certainly enhance our workforce.” He

added that there are really three reasons why Walinga isn’t taking more advantage of Conestoga’s course offerings. “Ideally there would be more courses available, we would have more employees, and the pandemic would be over.”

Brenda Gilmore is Conestoga’s Chair of Workforce Development and Partnerships in Trades at the Brant County location.

She understands the importance of working very closely with agriculture leaders when it comes to expanding the program. “Colleges play a key role in helping address industry and community needs through workforce training and development, and advisory committees help Conestoga keep a pulse on current and emerging needs to ensure programs are aligned. Our industry partnerships help prepare graduates with the skills and knowledge they need to successfully enter the workforce.”

There is no doubt that governments play a crucial role in terms of providing resources to improve labour issues.

Gilmore said the support the college is receiving demonstrates that “our elected officials see the value of agriculture and the role it is playing in the country’s economic recovery. We are very thankful for the contribution we received from the federal and provincial governments, along with municipal governments and

www.a-m-c.ca

“I’m a new, young farmer and being in this course has been really valuable. I learned about how to operate and maintain different types of farm equipment.

If you are someone who is interested in agriculture… this is the program where can get that entry into the industry, get some exposure that you may not have otherwise.

You can brush up on your preventative maintenance skills, learn best practices, and get your sprayer license.”

— Michaela Cruz

economic development departments across southwestern Ontario.” She adds that without the funding the program would not have started the way we did.

“It’s an expensive program to run. Some of the equipment is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.” Gilmore added that Conestoga is also looking for more partnerships with equipment distributors and OEMs to be able to expose students to a variety of equipment and the latest technology. “We want our students to be well-rounded when they go out to industry.” The college has also recently become a member of the Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada (AMC). “We are very pleased to find the organization. I think it’s a good match for the college, our students and graduates. Any time industry and education can come together it benefits the community.”

First Students Graduate In April, Conestoga celebrated the first cohort of students ready to enter the workforce as graduates of the pilot program. “We have had many employers reach out to us interested in graduates, from farm operators to agricultural groups. It will be interesting to see where the program leads – our graduates will be in high demand,” said Gilmore who added she is thrilled with the outcomes from the first class. “It’s definitely a start to what we are doing in Brant County.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. You always learn things from programming, like we should add this or add that, other pieces of equipment, so certainly we are going to refine this for the next intake, which is coming in January of 2022.”

Ontario college certificate program, and that program will benefit because of the pilot projects we are doing,” said Gilmore.

What’s Coming Next?

The idea of specialized agricultural courses may be catching on elsewhere and Gable is hoping the Conestoga program will continue to expand.

“We have had several other economic development departments and colleges reach out and try to learn a little more about this program. The fact Brant can be recognized as a place of excellence in agriculture is something I am immensely proud of. I’m just thinking where can we go from here? Can we provide additional programs like precision agriculture, training with autonomous vehicles with the understanding how sophisticated the ag sector is? The sky is the limit, so I am pretty excited!”

He added that the general public really doesn’t understand how technical agriculture has become. “This notion in the community that agriculture isn’t sophisticated, not technologically advanced – hat couldn’t be further from the truth. Farmers can use smart phones now; they can use drones. We need to battle that and let the public know just how advanced our farming operations are. We are doing a real service.”

Watch this YouTube video providing information on the first pilot course at Conestoga College. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=t9HgPl8W9Jw

There has been a lot of energy behind the program with stakeholders, government, and local farmers who provided equipment and technology for the students. “We are now working with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities on the development of a new one-year

@AMCshortlinecda

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MEMBER PROFILE

INNOVATION Meets Carbon-Neutral

by Lee Griffi Growing up on a grain farm near Carman, Manitoba, Lyall Wiebe had no idea he would wind up selling products to farmers that run on biofuels, many of them made up of agricultural waste products. Triple Green Products makes a variety of heating, drying and dehydrating products that are economically viable and environmentally friendly, reducing carbon tax payouts and putting waste to good use. The company is relatively new in the agricultural manufacturing game, but they feel their innovative and environmentally friendly lineup of machinery will become the norm.

Wiebe, who is the general manager of Triple Green Products, said he saw incredible possibilities in some existing innovative products. “Just over two years ago my partners and I were able to acquire a company and along with that came several technologies and the rights to a product line we were also interested in and saw great potential. We knew if we were able to put the resources needed into improving the technology that we would have something that we could take to the next level.” Wiebe was working

as a consultant for the company before the sale and his advice was direct to the then owner. “The previous owner was not willing to invest the money in the technologies needed to take it to the next level, so basically I told him to put a chain across the gate. I knew it would take the investment and a lot of hard work and if we were prepared to do that this could be a big deal.”

anywhere from 30 to 80 percent compared to fossil fuels and there is a quick return on investment (ROI). “The customer is interested in our product. It is a carbon-neutral solution, and it is better for the environment. It really is important to understand that the ROI is three to five years and this factor can vary slightly since fuel costs fluctuate. From a financial standpoint it’s huge.”

Cam Cornelson is a co-owner of the company and said many of their products are currently being outsourced to other manufacturers while the focus right now is to ramp up the sales. “We have dealer development reps in Canada and in the United States and we are actively working on setting up dealers and making sure that more people are aware of the product. Education is a big part of that.”

He added that purchasing one of their products is a significant purchase, not an impulse buy.

A Different Way to Dry

The main selling point for Triple Green products ultimately amounts to cost savings and paying less carbon tax.

Cornelson said customers can realize

Conventional grain dryers use natural gas or propane as fuel. The basic concept around the BioDryAir grain drying system is to use biomass instead of fossil fuels. Propane is made up of 82 percent moisture and 66 percent natural gas, but Wiebe said there is a better way.

“When grain is dried with those two fuels, the moisture is going into the grain you are trying to dry and leads to great inefficiencies. We can burn almost any type of biomass like oat, wheat or corn stover pellets. Farmers can use a hopper bottom bin and an auger, that feeds our system and it’s simple to use.”

One of the largest expenses for a farmer is in drying grain, something Wiebe says

BioRoter Dehydrator BioDryAir Grain Dryer

TGF Natural Gas Boiler

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BioRoter Composter

www.a-m-c.ca

“I think Canadians are certainly known as leaders in innovation, especially in Western Canada. If there is something needed or can be done better, it seems as though people’s ingenuity is alive and well and we will find a way.”

A LONG WAY

TOGETHER

— L yall Wiebe, General Manager, Triple Green Products

is simply inefficient. “Our system means corn, for example, can be taken off the field sooner. Famers will often leave the crop on longer for some natural drying to take place.” He added that this system is a big, groundbreaking undertaking for Triple Green. “We believe this product will change the landscape on how the North American farmer will dry grain.”

Forced Air and Boiler Heating The technology behind Triple Green Products heating systems has been out there for over 20 years, but the company believes it has vastly improved the product through the use of the latest technologies. “We are heating barns and huge greenhouses, all with carbonneutral biomass. Our forced air and boiler systems are inexpensive to operate and healthier in that mortality rates in animals have dropped,” said Wiebe. The company’s boilers operate with hot water or steam and can be used in a variety of applications. “We just finished a hog barn taking it off coal. The carbon tax on that operation was more costly than the coal itself. The farmer has decided to put the same system in his other barns as well. We are also installing a system into a large greenhouse operation near Hamilton, Ontario, that will put out 100 million BTUs of heat.” He added that both types of systems have a long life and require little maintenance.

Composting/Dehydrator Mortality management in livestock operations has long been a difficult chore for farmers, with the risk of disease, odour and pest problems, as well as the threat of ground water contamination.

Wiebe said Triple Green’s research and development into its BioRoter composter and dehydrator means turning mortalities

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V-FLEXA No matter how challenging your needs, V-FLEXA is your best ally for agricultural trailers, tankers and spreaders. This latest-generation product features VF technology, which enables the transport of heavy loads both in the fields and on the road at lower inflation pressure.

V-FLEXA is a steel-belted tire with a reinforced bead that provides durability, excellent selfcleaning properties and low rolling resistance even at high speeds.

V-FLEXA is BKT’s response for field and road transport with very heavy loads avoiding soil compaction.

For info: Western Canada 604-701-9098 Eastern Canada 514-792-9220

New ADV_V-Flexa_CA_6x8,75, 0,125_AMC.indd 1

into fuel. “If you have a hog operation for example, and you can deal with your own mortalities the dehydrator creates a closed loop. The mortalities are placed into the vessel and in 24 hours it’s biomass fuel.” He added that farmers could have a dead stock truck come to the operation and bring with it the potential of biohazards or a hole could be dug for disposal but changing laws in many municipalities have removed on-farm burial as a viable, legal option.

Bright Future Wiebe believes the investments the company have made are important to the sector. “We thought it was of great value

28/02/20 10:44

if we invested in newer technologies and be more environmentally friendly. We spent millions of dollars over the last couple years in research and development and focusing on new technologies.” He added that the timing could not have been any better for Triple Green with the focus on climate change and green. “We believe we have come out with products that will eventually be a mainstay on many farms.”

Cornelson said the company is looking to hire anywhere from 12 to 20 people, including engineers, sales and support staff, as they continue to grow. “We are excited about the future. We expect to be a significant player in this segment of the industry.”

Implement Success | Summer 2021

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MEMBER PROFILE

1st

A World First for Potato Farming

By Paula Schuck Allan Equipment Manufacturing was started in 1964 in Prince Edward Island and is currently Canada’s oldest and largest manufacturer and designer of potato harvesting equipment. This on its own is a powerful, notable and wellrecognized accomplishment in the ag world. But a lesser-known fact is that Allan Equipment has lit up the industry with the world’s first electric potato harvester.

When Allan Equipment president Trent Cousins and I finally caught up, it was at

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the end of the day. Home with his two young children sounds like the perfect spot to land after a long day during one of the busiest seasons for potato farming.

Cousins and his partner, Danie van Shalkwyk, bought Allan Equipment in 2013. In 2014, they decided to design a new harvester and wanted to power it electrically because it is simple and cost efficient.

There had been a prototype electric potato harvester built in the 2000s. “We

took the idea and made it into something we could bring to market. That was the world’s first electric potato harvester.”

Why Electric?

Allan’s electric potato harvester is more efficient and costs a lot less to run. It sends very little dirt to the warehouse.

It’s wider and it digs cleaner. Electric power allows farmers to easily control the speeds of the belt chain or webs, shakers or kickers and all cleaning tables. It is also very dependable.

www.a-m-c.ca

The ground-breaking, fully electric harvesters feature an innovative electric system that offers advanced control of the harvester while delivering Allan’s core values: simplicity of design, ease of maintenance, gentle crop handling, high capacity and reliability. “It’s easier from the perspective of if it’s electric, parts are readily available, so if there are ever repairs it is easy for people to work on and fix,” says Cousins.

Cousins says the potato harvester has been very well received in North America and is carving out a following beyond. Different areas prefer different row configurations, so the harvesters are available in two-, three- and four-row options. There were some of the usual challenges at the start launching the new product, but Cousins says it was pretty well received in general. The biggest challenge was acceptance. Some wondered how electric equipment could work in the field.

“It’s actually old tech we are using, which is part of the story. There’s a reason this technology makes sense. Look around your home. Electricity powers many of the things in your home. This technology is reliable and tested.

“It takes a lot less power to run and costs less,” Cousins says.

It’s all electric, which makes it cost efficient. There’s no power take off (PTO) shaft, it’s wider, digs cleaner and it’s easy to operate. The extra cleaning capacity of Allan’s electric potato harvester makes a huge difference to potato farmers. It provides more separation with infinite adjustability. If a farmer is driving along operating the harvester and sees the potatoes bouncing, they can slow the machine down to minimize damage. The machine is easy to adjust and control.

The potato harvester digs the potatoes up with the digger web and then lifts them to the sieving webs. As soil and potatoes are transferred onto the series of webs, soil falls through and returns to the ground and the potatoes continue on to the fully adjustable Scotts Evolution cleaning table. This is a dirt elimination table designed to gently handle crops in even the toughest conditions. Touch screen controls allow for easy and instant adjustments to be made from the comfort of the cab.

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Suction Nozzle Swivel Coupling Safety Relief Valves 6 inch line, Dual Inlets 110-130hp 1000rpm PTO Backsaver Floor Sweep #614 - WALINGA Blower #1618 - 10 Vane WALINGA Airlock Self Contained Hydraulics 2 - 6”x12’ Galvanized Delivery Hoses (DLX incl. Stainless Hoses) 1 - 6”x12’ Rubber Clean-up Hose Rhino-lined Receiver Tank & Boom Cyclone

• Fill 100’ silos!

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Book your demo now: USA Tel: 800.466.1197 • CANADA Tel: 888.925.4642

“ Not only do we work with farmers, but we are also farmers.”

—T rent Cousins, President, Allan Equipment

The electric harvester design does not require the use of a high horsepower tractor. There are few moving parts, which ensures that the electric harvester is low maintenance, with reduced operating costs. These machines also boast superior operator visibility.

“We are always learning. In five years, we see ourselves being in the top three in North America and the top four worldwide.”

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Are you changing the way business is done in your company or industry?

Workforce Capital

Re!magining Business Models February 2020 brought disruption but created opportunities to reevaluate our processes at Workforce Capital. In an industry where we provide our clients with the best possible talent, we chose to evolve as a team and synergize rather than compete. Our team rally cry when we conferenced with our competitors was “Together Everybody Wins” – including our partners, candidates and clients.

We have consistently performed and grown through this challenging time because of MCLS.ca (Multiple Career Listing Service). MCLS.ca enables our staffing agency partners to work with would-be competitors to broaden their candidate reach and capability. The partnership helped us venture deeper into the manufacturing industry, and we’ve placed over 700 workers through this pilot project. We’ve helped support our workers, satisfy our joint clients’ ever-evolving needs and move a small part of the economy in the right direction. With national reach, remote or mobile human capital, our clients have a single contact to meet their human resource needs anywhere in Canada.

We have reimagined our processes, partnered with top expertise and created a contingent and direct hire environment appreciated by our clientele. When clients and candidates are happy we know we’ve created a platform where Everybody Wins!

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SPOTLIGHT

Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Custom Quality Manufacturing (CQM)

The move to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic was a big undertaking for the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Agricultural Equipment Technician program.

With the new tube laser cutter at Custom Quality Manufacturing (CQM), customers will benefit from improved cut quality and accuracy, a shorter lead time, and reduced production costs for parts that previously had to go through multiple processes.

Re!magining Education

During the pandemic, Glacier FarmMedia (GFM) Ag in Motion at Discovery Farm Langham also moved to online delivery of its array of field and livestock demonstrations, as well as field research programs. The result was hours of video footage.

Building on their long-standing partnership, Sask Polytech and GFM made these videos available to over 250 Sask Polytech students and apprentices pursuing careers as agricultural equipment technicians and agricultural equipment experts. These videos not only provide detailed views of equipment produced by a range of manufacturers but also capture the machinery in action in the field.

Re!magining Processes

The BLM LT8 tube laser cutter is one of the few of its size and capabilities in Ontario, with state-of-the-art nesting software, and a 4K fibre-optic resonator.

The tube laser can cut and bevel tubes, pipes, channels, angles or other profiles all in one swift, efficient operation.

George Peters, managing partner, says that with the new machine, most parts can be processed more accurately, and from 20% to 80% faster.

For an RFQ or more information, contact salesandservice@cqmfg.com or visit www.cqmfg.com.

This online video content is a great complement to the limited in-person learning taking place on campus to ensure agriculture students and apprentices receive a quality education.

In-person learning on campus continues to follow strict COVID-19 protocols.

www.a-m-c.ca

Showcase your Re!magination...

The AMC Re!magination Spotlight is an opportunity for AMC members to showcase how they are reimagining business!

In order to qualify, your company should be reimagining business in one of the following categories: Business Models: Examples could include shifting gears to adapt to changing business supply demands, expansions, or new acquisition strategies.

Workforce: Examples could include a virtual workforce, an outsourced workforce, or an automated workforce.

Products: Examples could include new product development, innovation, and new-to-market ideas.

Services: Examples could include adapting offerings to a changing environment or reinventing your delivery of services to meet customer needs.

Technology: Examples could include the development of a new software, new technological equipment, or automation.

www.yokohama-oht.com @yokohamaohta

NEW COMPANY NAME —

SAME GREAT FARM TIRES. The wide range of Alliance tires—including cutting edge VF flotation tires, fast flotation, rugged R-1 and turf tires, and more—is now under the umbrella of Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America, Inc.

That means an even bigger global R&D, engineering and manufacturing team to back up your familiar Canadian reps. And we still promise warranty coverage up to 10 years and our convenient Warranty Wizard app.

So our new name backs up our long-standing promise: any size, any spec, any challenge. Alliance is ENGINEERED TO KEEP YOU AHEAD.

Distribution: Examples could include new sales tactics, new supplier channels, or new network opportunities.

Other: Examples could include reimaginations that do not fit into one of the above categories.

Submissions are easy!

Just send us a 150-word write-up telling us a little bit about your reimagination, the category it qualifies for, and the impact it has on your business or the industry. Submissions are free and you can submit more than one entry.

Submit your entry.

This will be a recurring section in Implement Success, so submit now to have your company featured in an upcoming edition!

Submissions can be sent to lbursch@31stline.com, with the subject line AMC Re!magination Spotlight Submission.

HarvestFaster.ca

@AMCshortlinecda

Contact Barrie Taylor: 306-381-5150 or Daniel Menard (QC/Atlantic): 819-469-3574

306.296.2297

Sales@HoneyBee.ca

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New Member SPOTLIGHT Please join us in welcoming our newest members to the Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada!

Allan Equipment Manufacturing Ltd. is Canada’s largest designer and manufacturer of potato harvesting equipment. We also manufacture blueberry harvesters and mowers. Allan is also a full-line dealership for Claas, Miedema and Agrifac. We have been serving the needs of our farm community by manufacturing quality equipment for over 50 years and are proud to be Prince Edward Island owned and operated. Our 60,000 square foot facility includes a large parts inventory and full-service machine shop. www.allanequipment.com

Established in 1967, Conestoga now serves approximately 23,000 registered students through campuses and training centres in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Stratford, Ingersoll and Brantford and is a provincial leader in apprenticeship training. Continuing education programs attract approximately 30,000 enrolments each year.

As the region’s only provider of polytechnic education, Conestoga plays an integral role in the success of our community: 65 per cent of our graduates remain in the area after completing their education, contributing more than $2.3 billion each year to the local economy.

More than 50 per cent of the local adult population has accessed our services.

As one of the country’s top research colleges, Conestoga’s applied research activities support student learning and helps area businesses grow, innovate and improve their productivity. Conestoga delivers more than 300 career-focused programs and is a leader in skilled trades training in Ontario. www.conestogac.on.ca

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InVision Edge helps organizations do great things through our patented strategic planning process that is built for rapid execution, and an innovation system that leads to repeatable and scalable results. We hold the only license in Canada to train and certify in Innovation Engineering. Together, we can find your next breakthrough – fast. www.invisionedge.com

JVC Precision Ltd. is a Canadian-based custom metal fabrication company focused on manufacturing high-quality metal products, built by professionals, who leverage advanced software, machines, technology, and equipment.

We offer a full range of services that cover all aspects of the product development lifecycle from 3D CAD design and prototyping to CNC laser cutting, forming, welding, and assembly.

Our unique value proposition is defined by our highly skilled and dedicated team, the advanced technology we leverage, and the processes we follow to ensure each product meets or exceeds expectations. Our combined services of design and production make us an attractive partner for many businesses. www.jvcprecision.com

Magna-Lite Ltd. is a manufacturing and supply company serving primarily the agricultural and truck trailer manufacturing industry with wire harnessing and lights. Magna-lite manufacturing facility is in Altona, Manitoba, just 6 miles north of the U.S. border allowing ease of service to both Canadian and U.S. customers.

Magna-Lite supplies a complete line of top-quality DOT compliant LED clearance, turn and stop/turn and taillights to the trailer manufacturing industry. Magnalite wire harnesses are made to our customer’s exact specifications and all harnesses are fully tested before they are packaged to ensure quality every time. New ASABE standards for OEM also call for enhanced lighting. To meet this standard the Magna-Lite Enhanced Lighting Module was introduced. This module greatly increases the safety of road travel.

Magna-Lite Ltd. believes in quality products at a reasonable price. www.magnaliteltd.com

Prairie Sky Strategy is a professional team of experienced, results-oriented strategic advisors on the ground, across Canada’s prairies and in our nation’s capital, focused on your success. We have deep experience in the agricultural equipment industry and government affairs. We work with clients on M&A Integration, business and strategy development, and government program insights. www.prairieskystrategy.ca

www.a-m-c.ca

Samuel Son & Co. is an industry–leading full-service steel processing metals supply center. Our capabilities include coil slitting, cut to length and stretch leveling. We can supply both ferrous and nonferrous metals. We have over 100 locations across North America and over 6500 employees ready to help you meet your metal needs. www.samuel.com

Thunderstruck Ag Equipment is a sales company specializing in distributing products for manufacturers across the world. We primarily represent farmerinvented products and we sell those products to OEMs, distributors, dealers and direct to farmers. We sell over $7 million per year in products around the world and do over 20 tradeshows per year where we display these products to farmers in North America. www.thunderstruckag.com

Thunderstruck Sales & Marketing is a fullservice marketing company specializing in helping companies in agriculture bring their products to market. We specialize in video, web design. web development, software development, digital marketing and social media management. We have been helping companies in ag over the last 7 years in marketing from a sales perspective. Our team works hard to generate more sales for our clients through the marketing we do. We recently did all of the marketing for our own series of trade shows that we put on across Western Canada called the Thanks for Farming Tour. We work with all sizes of manufacturers across ag. www.thunderstrucksales.com

@AMCshortlinecda

TiMOTION is an industry-leading provider of electric linear actuators and supporting products. Our team specializes in innovative and customized solutions for manufacturers of industrial, furniture, and medical equipment. We pride ourselves in providing the best possible solutions to each and every one of our customers.

At TiMOTION, we know that any problem can be solved with the right technology.

Customizable electric linear actuators are used to enhance applications that hydraulic and pneumatic systems just don’t fit. As your business partner, TiMOTION aims to provide the highestquality, customizable components at competitive prices. We believe in what we do and the products we create. www.timotion.com

Triple Green Products manufactures and installs technologies that are focused on sustainable biomass energy and the environmentally conscious handling and recycling of organic waste materials.

We have built a reputation for supplying proven, long-lasting heating and composting/dehydrating solutions for many industry sectors and are sought out for innovative solutions in industries that had not previously considered the alternatives before.

The products central to Triple Green’s innovative solutions are their scalable, biomass high-heat output boiler/furnace systems and options, and their industrial composters and dehydrators. www.triplegreenproducts.com

Western Canadian Pulse Processing Solutions is an industrial maintenance and overhead crane service company.

Serving all agricultural, feed, food production and material handling industries. Grain processing & ag, industrial facility maintenance, overhead cranes and hoists. We can custom build or modernize existing systems, including system design, construction, implementation, project management, automation, fractionation and air classification services. www.lhsmcorp.com

Wildwood Transport Inc. The Open Decks Experts. At Your Service!

There’s an easier road ahead with us.

Providing a streamlined approach to open deck transportation, we simplify the complexities of your supply chain.

Our process is entirely customized to your needs and delivered by a proven and dedicated team. We go the extra mile to help you do the same! There are challenges involved with almost every shipment. With decades of proven experience, we are able to see the roadblocks ahead. We act with urgency, find a solution and communicate throughout the process, staying accountable from the beginning.

No surprises. No excuses! We look forward to earning your trust! www.wildwoodtransport.com

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THE BEST WE’VE EVER BUILT!

NOW STO CKED IN CANAD A

ULTRA.Longlife | ULTRA.Efficient | ULTRA.Safety | ULTRA.Easy

www.walterscheid.com K68 / EK68 CAM-TYPE CUT-OUT CLUTCH

P675 WIDE ANGLE JOINT ideal for heavy-duty applications

NEW WIDE-ANGLE TECHNOLOGY P450 optimised for applications with high continuous angles and speeds

INNOVATIVE LUBRICATION SYSTEM FOR PROFILE TUBES ease of maintenance and optimum grease distribution

prolonged service life, reduced maintenance and quieter running

NEW K90TF FRICTION CLUTCH

constant torque and easy maintenance NEW ST GUARD FOR DRIVE SHAFTS elimination of retaining chain

LONGLIFE CROSS KITS for double the service life

NEW PREMIUM GUARD CONE

for easy and quick mounting and maintenance of the drive

GIVES DOUBLE THE LIFETIME OF OUR DRIVE SHAFTS Authorized Distributor: AIC Supply Inc | 1-6 Don Valley Parkway | Springfield, MB, R5R 0C9 Canada | P: (204) 237-5310 | sales@aicsupplyinc.com WAL_Ultra.Plus_TheBook_AD_7x4.875inch.indd 1

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05.01.21 10:41

www.a-m-c.ca

Index to Advertisers 31st Line Strategic Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Agri Supply (Dick Jones & Associates, Inc.). . . . . . . . 17

Government of Saskatchewan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Alberta Industrial Heat Treating (AIHT) . . . . . . . . . . 17

Honey Bee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Apollo-Clad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Northern Plastics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Axalta Coating Systems . . . . . . . . . . Outside Back Cover

Omega Drives Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover

BKT Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Percy H. Davis Limited. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Daemar Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

RAM Industries Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Degelman Industries Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Walinga Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Eldale Machine & Tool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Walterscheid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Encore Metals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Yokohama-Off Highway Tires America Inc. formerly Alliance Tire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Daemar_AMC-IS-Fall2018-Outlines_Ad-01.indd 1

@AMCshortlinecda

2018-10-31 10:52:09 AM

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Axalta has built a legacy of coatings expertise over the past 150 years

Axalta powder coatings offer superb technology with benefits for many industrial applications. These products have earned a reputation for corrosion resistance and durability due to superior edge coverage, thick film build, and primerless application.

Containing virtually no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or targeted hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), powder coatings are designed to respond to environmental demands while meeting stringent customer requirements.

For more information, please visit us at: axalta.us/powder 800.247.3886 weborders.powder@axalta.com

Alesta®

» Wide variety of colours » Meets or exceeds AAMA 2603 and 2604 standards » Excellent weatherability, elasticity, impact and abrasion resistance » Ideal for hand railings, fencing, and aluminum extrusions

Highlights

» Can be applied on aluminum or steel substrates » Uniform colour between batches » High weather resistance and colour retention » Environmentally responsible » Available globally